George Whitefield Chadwick - Suite Symphonique (1909)

George Whitefield Chadwick (November 13, 1854 – April 4, 1931) was an American composer. Along with John Knowles Paine, Horatio Parker, Amy Beach, Arthur Foote, and Edward MacDowell, he was a representative composer of what is called the Second New England School of American composers of the late 19th century—the generation before Charles Ives. Chadwick's works are influenced by the Realist movement in the arts, characterized by a down-to-earth depiction of people's lives.

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Suite Symphonique in E-flat major (1909)
Dedication: Frederick A. Stock and the Theodore Thomas Orchestra of Chicago.

1. Allegro molto animato (0:00)
2. Romanza: Andantino espressivo (11:08)
3. Intermezzo e Humoreske: Poco allegretto (20:26)
4. Finale: Allegro molto ed energico (27:49)

Czech State Philharmonic Orchestra Brno conducted by Jose Serebrier

First performance 1911-03-29 in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, George Whitefield Chadwick (conductor)

The suite was dedicated to German conductor Frederick Stock (1872-1942)
In 1895, Stock met with Theodore Thomas, founder and first music director of the then fledgling Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who was to have a decisive impact on his future. Thomas, who was then visiting Germany in search of recruits for his new Chicago orchestra, auditioned Stock and hired him as a violist. Thomas soon realized, however, that his new violist was also a very talented conductor and, in 1899, Stock was promoted to assistant conductor.

After Thomas' death on January 4, 1905, Stock succeeded him as music director. That year, he wrote a symphonic poem Eines Menschenlebens Morgen, Mittag und Abend, dedicated to "Theodore Thomas and the Members of the Chicago Orchestra." The work was first performed on April 7 and 8, 1905.

The orchestra's board of trustees had first approached Hans Richter, Felix Weingartner and Felix Mottl to succeed Thomas. But the board's executive committee met on April 11, 1905, and resolved: "Frederick Stock unanimously elected Conductor. Trustees voted that the Orchestra should now be known as 'The Theodore Thomas Orchestra.'" (The ensemble's name was ultimately changed to Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1913.)

Stock's 37-year tenure as head of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was surpassed in America only by Eugene Ormandy's lengthy directorship of the Philadelphia Orchestra.